So, I decided to audit a basic music theory course this semester to try and catch myself back up before taking more involved classes. The work so far has reminded me what my problem always was in music theory classes I took. I can read fine, not to the point of automatic sightreading, but I can recognize the pitches fairly quickly. I understand scales, triads, etc., I understand most basic theory as wella s when I finished the course the first time.

But the one thing I have never been able to get a grasp on is key signatures. I'm fine with sharps or flats as accidentals, but I can never recognize a key signature when I see it. People say the circle of fifths helps, but it's never helped me remember them.

Does anyone have any sort of advice to memorizing key signatures and their corresponding sharps and flats?

For flat key signatures, the second-to-last flat is the major tonic. EG: Three flats, Bb Eb Ab. The song is in Eb major. Hopefully you understand relative keys to find the possible minors.

For sharp key signatures, the final sharp is the leading tone of that key's major scale, so go up a half-step to find tonic. EG: Three sharps. F# C# G#. G# plus a half step: A major.

It will definitely take some work to be able to just look at a key signature and know instantly what key it's in. That's expected. That's fine. Work on memorizing the ORDER of flats and sharps (because that never changes in key signatures for as much as you're going to come across in a theory class) and these steps to get from here to there.

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Originally Posted by Joshua Garcia

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If you can simply THINK in 4ths/5ths then you've already created a system where, if you don't have them memorized (which you should), all you need to do is be able to identity 5ths/4ths to find the answer quickly.

If you're writing out key signatures, then the only other piece of information you need is the order of sharps & flats, that is, the unchanging order by which they're added to a key signature.

The idea is to memorize, but also have a system by which you can deduce WHY and HOW you got your answer. In my experience, using the system ad infinitum reinforces your understanding of the concept, and also drills it into your memory.
Repetition is key.